Page 114 of Capturing You

He’d lied to her. Ford…Forbes…had lied, over and over.

For all she knew, everything he’d told her had been a lie.

Why, though? Why not tell her the truth? She was the innocent one in all of this. She had done nothing to betray him. She hadn’t told anyone about the cave. She’d kept her whereabouts a secret.

Was that it? Did he not want her to leave because he didn’t trust her not to blab about him and the house? Or was it worse?

The smuggling operation. Was he in on it?

She couldn’t imagine, but an hour before, she wouldn’t have guessed what a skilled liar he was.

Ford Baker, historian and handyman, she'd come to know and trust.

She knew nothing about Forbes Ballentine except that she couldn’t believe a word that came out of his mouth.

She was a fool. A stupid, stupid fool.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

Forbes paced at the end of Grandmother’s bed, watching as the doctor examined her. Grandmother hadn’t stirred, despite the crowd in her bedroom. Her steady breathing told Forbes she was resting. He’d rarely seen her asleep. All her worry lines were smoothed out, the tension in her jaw relaxed.

He hated for her to wake up, but at the same time, he needed to ask what had happened that sent Brooklynn running. Assuming Gran would even remember.

Probably not.

Forbes needed to find Brooklynn.

But he also needed to stay.

He needed…he needed help.

Lord, heal Grandmother. Protect Brooklynn. For her sake, help me find her.

Because God wouldn’t do it for Forbes’s sake. He’d proved that over and over.

Today was further proof. Forbes had needed Grandmother to hold it together for twenty minutes, but God hadn’t given him that. It was like the Almighty held a grudge against him. Not that he didn’t deserve it.

“Forbes?”

Grandmother's voice was weak and wobbly, nothing like the strong woman who’d raised him.

“He’s right here.” Dr. Shelley moved away, indicating for him to take her place. As he scooted past her, she gripped his arm and whispered, “Play along. Don’t upset her.”

Right. Play along that he was Forbes, not Ford, when he actuallywasForbes, and Ford didn’t exist.

His whole life was one big, convoluted story. No wonder he was alone.

He sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m here.”

She looked weak and vulnerable, but the strength in her grip when she took his hand encouraged him. She was still in there. “I think I said something?—”

“It’s all right.” The last thing he needed was for her to alert the hovering healthcare workers as to his real identity. He turned to the doctor. “Would you mind stepping out, please?”

She left, ushering her nurse along with her. There was no door between this room and the next, so Forbes kept his voice low. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. I just have a feeling…” Her words trailed.

“It’s all right, Gran.”